Looking to start swimming

RE: Looking to start swimming

Jimbosback — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 10:34:14 GMT

Getting the pool into my routine is what I am aiming for, this way it will become a habit instead of work. So going with the starting slow, how should I feel when I leave the pool? tired or a little pumped? and should I be stretching before I go in? I know you are pretty much weightless in water but you still have to use muscles... I am going to make myself a little swimming plan and get back to you guys after I have managed to do my first day. It's really exciting, to be honest! I want to get back in the water! You can do a light warmup before, but I think it is better to stretch after. This will have an added benefit of helping recovery. For me, the best warmup for swimming is slow swimming, but I do some kicking while sitting on the side to loosen up my ankles and some arm circles to get my shoulders going. There was an article a few years ago about adding swimming to workouts as a beginner. I think it was in Men's Health. They suggested swimming slow and easy for as long as you could to start off. Count the lengths. Swim that many lengths fast, resting after each one. Swim slow and easy and try to match the original distance. That can give you an idea of how much to start with.

RE: Looking to start swimming

Former Member — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 06:42:24 GMT

RE: Looking to start swimming

Mark Usher — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 11:58:28 GMT

Two thoughts: 1. Be consistent. No matter how you start out, be consistent with your training. You'll never see any significant gains if you take off long stretches of time. It will be like you're starting over all the time. Make going to the pool a habit and part of your normal routine. I was taught the rule of thumb that you needed to swim at least three times a week to see any significant improvement. 2. Weight loss is going to be more related to your diet than your level of exercise. Swimming certainly will help, but you'll need to clean up your diet to see any significant weight loss. Good luck with your training.

RE: Looking to start swimming

kimdono — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 10:48:57 GMT

AJ swim, Jack gives good advice. I have been coaching masters for 20+ years and have coached many levels of swimmers. If you can give a little more history on your swimming background I could probably give you some more specific advice. You say you haven't seen a pool in 4 years. had you done some swimming then? Interval training is much more interesting than doing laps back and forth in the pool. Intervals keep you much more engaged and allow you to work harder and lose weight. I am happy to give you a little more advise with a little more information.

RE: Looking to start swimming

Sumorunner — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 10:12:41 GMT

I'm not a swim coach, but an old shot putter, runner, track & field guy. A long long time ago a coach gave me the best advice for taking on a new endeavor. "Start low, go slow". It works for everything. Just get to a pool, do a couple laps, next time do a couple more, repeat. A year from now you'll be amazed at how far you've come.